Vacuum cleaner construction

ABSTRACT

A vacuum cleaner construction comprising an improved means for pivotally connecting a cover to a base in a canister type vacuum cleaner. The pivot means includes integral camming structure for camming the connector elements apart to release the cover from the base as an incident of a forceful urging of the cover beyond the normal open position. Removable switch and light means are mounted on the cover adjacent the pivot means.

United States Patent [1 1 Westergren et al.

[ Dec. 25, 1973 VACUUM CLEANER CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventors: George A. Westergren; Warren 11.

Fish, both of White Bear Lake; Stanley R. Crooks, Shakopee; David G. Koland, Sandstone, all of Minn.

[73] Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Minn.

[22] Filed: June 13, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 262,360

[52] US. Cl. 174/52 R, 15/327 R, 16/171, 220/31 S [51] Int. Cl. H05k 5/02 [58] Field of Search 174/52 R, 50;

15/327 D, 327 E, 327 R; 220/31 S, 31 R; 16/171 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,778,447 l/1957 Meyerhoefer 15/327 R X 3,254,480 6/1966 Rideout 15/327 R X 3,438,081 4/1969 Ruuier 15/327 R 2,765,949 10/1956 Hillman 220/31 S 3,087,192 4/1963 Hertzke 220/31 R 3,497,908 3/1970 Zamarra 220/31 S X Primary Examiner-Bemard A. Gilheany Assistant Examiner-David A. Tone Att0rney.lames S. Nettleton et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A vacuum cleaner construction comprising an im proved means for pivotally connecting a cover to a base in a canister type vacuum cleaner. The pivot means includes integral camming structure for camming the connector elements apart to release the cover from the base as an incident of a forceful urging of the cover beyond the normal open position. Removable switch and light means are mounted on the cover adjacent the pivot means.

12 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to vacuum cleaners and in particular to canister vacuum cleaners having movably related base and cover portions.

2. Description of the Prior Art In one form of vacuum cleaner, the fan and filter bag are located in a canister to which is attached a hose and wand which picks up the dirt and delivers it to the filter bag. The filter bag must be replaced from time to time and, thus, it is necessary to provide controlled access to the interior of the canister. It is further desirable to provide full access to the interior of the canister at times such as in repairing the unit.

Illustrative of vacuum cleaners of the canister type are those shown in U.S. letters Pat. Nos.: 3,081,478 C. B. Smithson Latch for Suction Cleaner; 3,359,025 B. E. Nilsson Vacuum Cleaner Cover Latch Control.

One prior art method of connecting a cover to a base portion of a receptacle is to provide a pivot or hinge means which permits the cover to swing to an open position to provide access to the interior of the receptacle when desired. Illustrative of such cover mounting structures are those illustrated in U.S. letters Pat. Nos.: 2,356,926 Gits Match Case; 2,601,101 Derham Hinge for Molded Boxes of Other Molded Articles; 2,765,949 Hillman Container; 2,960,253 Kiba Cradle Hinge for Plastic Receptacles; 2,960,254 Kiba Flexible Hinge Construction for Plastic Boxes; 3,087,192 Hertzke Hinged Plate-like Unit and Interlocking Hinge; 3,365,094 Palson Hinge; 3,456,913 Lutz Mold for Making a Container Having an Integrally Molded Twopiece Hinge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends an improved vacuum cleaner construction wherein the cover is pivotally mounted to the base of a bag holding canister by means adapted to cause facilitated separation of the cover and base when desired.

More specifically, the present invention comprehends such a vacuum cleaner construction wherein the mounting means includes interfitted male and female pivot elements having means integral therewith for camming said elements apart to release the cover from the base as an incident of a forceful urging of the cover away from the closed disposition beyond the open disposition.

More specifically, in the present invention, the female pivot element comprises a socket defining a cam surface cooperating with the male pivot element to effect the desired camming separation action. The mounting means may include co acting shoulder means on the base and cover to cause the camming operation.

In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of such pivot mounting means is provided with the pivot means of the two pairs being coaxially aligned and arranged so that the male pivot elements are urged toward each other in the releasing operation.

The cover may be provided with an electrical control switch and a signal light disposed adjacent the pivot mounting means. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the switch and signal light are removably connected to the cover for facilitated complete separation of the cover from the base when desired.

The vacuum cleaner construction of the present invention is extremely simple and economical of construction while yet providing the highly desirable features discussed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING separated position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section of the pivot mounting means with the cover in the closed position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 but with the cover in a partially open position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 but with the cover in a fully open condition;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary exploded view of the signal light thereof;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary exploded view of the switch thereof; 7

FIG. 8 is a vertical section of the assembled switch;

FIG. 9 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 9-9 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 10 is a section similar to that of FIG. 9 but illustrating the separation of the male and female mounting elements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawing, a vacuum cleaner generally designated 10 is shown to comprise a canister 11 including a base 12, and a cover 13 mounted to the base by pivot mounting means 14. The base may be provided with suitable wheels 15 and is adapted to have removably connected thereto a hose 16 which may be removably connected to a conventional dirt pick-up wand (not shown). The base may be provided with a carrying handle 17 at the forward end, and an electrical power cable 18 for connecting the vacuum cleaner to a conventional electrical power outlet.

As discussed briefly above, the invention comprehends an improved mounting means 14 for connecting the cover to the base selectively in a closed position as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, a normal open position as shown in full lines therein, and a separated disposition as shown in broken lines therein.

More specifically, the illustrated mounting means 14 comprises a pair of male elements 19 and a corresponding pair of female elements 20 carried on the base 12 and cover 13, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, the male and female elements are defined by fiat, rearward integral extensions of the base and cover. The male element 19 includes a pivot post 21 projecting horizontally into a recess socket 22 of the female element 20. The socket is defined by an inclined cam surface wall 23 having a substantially inclined portion 23a and a substantially upright portion 23b at opposite sides thereof. The bottom of the recess is defined by an elongated oval surface 24 having a width substantially equal to the diameter of the post 21. The male element 19 further defines a shoulder 25 cooperating with a shoulder 26 on the female element to cooperate with the female element in holding the cover in the open position shown in full lines in FIG. 2 and as shown in greater detail in FIG. 5.

The canister base and cover are preferably formedof a resilient material such as plastic and, as indicated above, the mounting elements 19 and 20 may be integrally molded therewith. Thus, the female elements 20 may yield resiliently as the cover is swung from the position of FIG. 3 to the position of FIGS. 4 and 5 and subsequently beyond the position of FIG. 5 as an incident of the camming action of the inclined surface 23.

Because of the substantial incline of the upright portion 23b, the resistance to the deflection of the male mounting element normally retains the cover in the upright position of FIGS. 2 and 5. However, forceful urging of the cover beyond the upright position of FIG. 5 causes the camming surface portion 23a to engage the post 21 and cam itforcibly outwardly from the post as shown in FIG. 10. Shoulder 25 acts against the edge 27 of the female element 20 in effecting the desired separation of the cover from the-base and, thus, edge 27, effectively defines an extension of the shoulder 26 in controlling the pivotal mounting.

Resultingly, to remove the cover 13 completely from the base 12, the user need merely swing the cover beyond the normal open position shown in full lines in FIG. 2, whereupon the mounting means automatically disengages. To remount the cover on the base, the user need merely urge the female elements 20 toward each other while inserting them between the posts 21 of the spaced male elements 19. The disposition of the cover 11 in thenormal open position provides access to the filter bag space 28 in the normal use of the vacuum cleaner without requiring that the cover be separated from the cleaner. I

In the illustrated embodiment, the post 21 has a diameter of approximately 0.180 inch with the overall length of the surface 24 being approximately 0.440 inch. 'The depth of the recess is approximately 0.220 inch with the female pivot element having a thickness of approximately 0.250 inch. Surface 24 is defined by ar'cuate ends extending about center points spaced 0.120 inch from the center of surface 24. The cam surface 23 has a maximum extension outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the surface 24, i.e., to the right, as seen in FIG. 3, of approximately 0.310 inch.

The cover may be provided with a signal lamp devic 29 and a control switch 30 mounted thereon at the rear portion adjacent the mounting means 14 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Each of the signal light device 29 and switch 30 are removably mounted on the cover to permit complete separation of the cover from the vacuum cleaner when desired while permitting the electrical connection of the signal light device 29 and switch 30 to be retained through the connecting wires 31.

Each of the signal light device 29 and switch 30 is retained to the cover by means of a pair of opposed depending clamplike hangers 32 having inturned distal lower ends. The cover is provided with a pair of openings 34 and 34 centered above the hanger pairs. The signal light device 29, as shown in FIG. 6, includes a lamp unit 36, a lens 36a, and a bezel 37 removably connected to the lamp unit 36, and a gasket 38. Device 29 may be assembled and inserted as a unit into the space between the clamp-like hangers 32 to project the light 4 upwardly through opening 35. The clamp-like hangers 32 are resilient and the opposed pairs must be forcibly spread apart to provide somewhat larger openings for insertion of the device 29 and the switch 30. After insertion the resilience of the hanger 32 clamps the light device 29 and the switch 30 securely in place.

Switch 30 is provided with a gasket 39 which, when assembled with the switch, may be inserted between the hangers 32 so that the handle 40 of the switch may project upwardly through the opening 34. Thus, each of the signal lamp device 29 and switch 30 may be readily installed or removed from the cover by springing open the clamp-like hangers 32 and sliding installation or removal from the hangers 32 as desired. The signal lamp device 29 and switch 30 are thusly associated with the cover without the use of separate fastening elements as the hangers 32 may be molded integrally with the cover 13 as illustrated in FIG. 8. n I

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

We claim:

1. In a vacuum cleaner having a canister including a base and a cover cooperatively defining a filter bag space, a connector pivotally mounting the cover to the base for selective arrangement in a closed disposition closing said space or a preselected open disposition providing access to said space such as for changing a filter bag therein, said connector comprising interfitted male and female pivot elements carried one each on the base and cover and having means integral therewith for camming said elements apart to release thecover from the base as an incident of a forceful urging of the cover away from the closed disposition beyond the open disposition.

2. The vacuum cleaner canister structure of claim 1 wherein said female pivot element defines a socket receiving the male pivot element and defining a cam surface for urging the male pivot element axially out of said socket as an incident of said forceful urging of the cover away from the closed disposition beyond the open disposition.

3. The vacuum cleaner canister structure of claim 1 wherein said connector further includes cooperating shoulder means engageable as an incident of said forceful urging of the cover away from the closed disposition beyond the open disposition for causing said camming means to release the cover from the base.

4. The vacuum cleaner canister structure of claim 1 wherein said connector further includes means causing operation of the camming means substantially only when the cover is moved away from the closed disposition beyond the open disposition.

5. The vacuum cleaner canister structure of claim 1 wherein said connector defines two sets of said interfitted male and female pivot elements, said sets being coaxially aligned, and said camming means being arranged to urge the male pivot elements toward each other to effect release thereof from the female pivot elements.

6. The vacuum cleaner canister structure of claim 1 further including an electrical control switch, wires extending between said base and said switch, and means removably mounting said switch on said cover adjacent said connector.

7. The vacuum cleaner canister structure of claim 1 further including a signal light, wires extending between said base and said signal light, and means removably mounting said signal light on said cover adjacent said connector.

8. The vacuum cleaner canister structure of claim 1 wherein said connector includes means for releasably holding the cover in said open position.

9. The vacuum cleaner canister structure of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes cooperating shoulder means on said base and said cover for'releasably holding the cover in said open position.

10. In a vacuum cleaner having a base and a cover cooperatively defining a space, a connector pivotally mounting the cover to the base for selective arrangement in a closed disposition closing said space or a preselected open disposition providing access to said space, said connector comprising interfitted male and female pivot elements carried one each on the base and cover, and means integral with said base and cover means for camming said elements apart to release the cover from the base as an incident of a forceful urging of the cover away from the closed disposition beyond the open disposition.

11. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 10 wherein said camming means includes interengaging camming surfaces on said male and female elements and interengaging shoulder means on said base and cover for causing coaction of said camming surfaces to release the cover as an incident of a forceful engagement of said shoulder means.

12. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 10 wherein said connector comprises a pair of such interfitted male and female elements and a corresponding pair of interengaging shoulder means for causing said camming apart of said male and female elements. 

1. In a vacuum cleaner having a canister including a base and a cover cooperatively defining a filter bag space, a connector pivotally mounting the cover to the base for selective arrangement in a closed disposition closing said space or a preselected open disposition providing access to said space such as for changing a filter bag therein, said connector comprising interfitted male and female pivot elements carried one each on the base and cover and having means integral therewith for camming said elements apart to release the cover from the base as an incident of a forceful urging of the cover away from the closed disposition beyond the open disposition.
 2. The vacuum cleaner canister structure of claim 1 wherein said female pivot element defines a socket receiving the male pivot element and defining a cam surface for urging the male pivot element axially out of said socket as an incident of said forceful urging of the cover away from the closed disposition beyond the open disposition.
 3. The vacuum cleaner canister structure of claim 1 wherein said connector further includes cooperating shoulder means engageable as an incident of said forceful urging of the cover away from the closed disposition beyond the open disposition for causing said camming means to release the cover from the base.
 4. The vacuum cleaner canister structure of claim 1 wherein said connector further includes means causing operation of the camming means substantially only when the cover is moved away from the closed disposition beyond the open disposition.
 5. The vacuum cleaner canister structure of claim 1 wherein said connector defines two sets of said interfitted male and female pivot elements, said sets being coaxially aligned, and said camming means being arranged to urge the male pivot elements toward each other to effect release thereof from the female pivot elements.
 6. The vacuum cleaner canister structure of claim 1 further including an electrical control switch, wires extending between said base and said switch, and means removably mounting said switch on said cover adjacent said connector.
 7. The vacuum cleaner canister structure of claim 1 further including a signal light, wires extending between said base and said signal light, and means removably mounting said signal light on said cover adjacent said connector.
 8. The vacuum cleaner canister structure of claim 1 wherein said connector includes means for releasably holding the cover in said open position.
 9. The vacuum cleaner canister structure of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes cooperating shoulder means on said base and said cover for releasably holding the cover in said open position.
 10. In a vacuum cleaner having a base and a cover cooperatively defining a space, a connector pivotally mounting the cover to the base for selective arrangement in a closed disposition closing said space or a preselected open disposition providing access to said space, said connector comprising interfitted male and female pivot elements carried one each on the base and cover, and means integral with said base and cover means for camming said elements apart to release the cover from the base as an incident of a forceful urging of the cover away from the closed disposition beyond the open disposition.
 11. The vacuum cleaner structure of claim 10 wherein said camming means includes interengaging camming surfaces on said male and female elements and interengaging shoulder means on said base and cover for causing coaction of said camming surfaces to release the cover as an incident of a forceful engagement of said shoulder means.
 12. The vacuum cleaner strUcture of claim 10 wherein said connector comprises a pair of such interfitted male and female elements and a corresponding pair of interengaging shoulder means for causing said camming apart of said male and female elements. 